Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Nigerian Senate passes law outlawing discrimination against disabled people

From This Day Online in Nigeria:

The Senate, March 10, passed a bill outlawing discrimination against disabled persons. With the passing of the Bill, any company that violates its provisions will pay a fine of N1 million.

Passage of the bill, sponsored by Senator Bode Olajumoke (Ondo North), followed clause-by-clause consideration in the Committee of the Whole.

It was consequently read for the third time and passed.

Entitled: “The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill 2009,” it provides that government and public organisations should provide convenient access for disabled persons to enter and exit premises.

Specifically, Section Seven of the Bill provides: “a public building shall be constructed with the necessary accessibility aids such as lifts, (where necessary) ramps and any other facility that shall make them accessible and usable to persons with disability.’’

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Information, Senator Ayogu Eze, said yesterday after plenary, that the bill was the first of its kind in the history of the country.

He said, "the Senate has taken seriously its responsibility and determination to ensure that we make laws not just for able bodied, but also for the physically-challenged in our midst.

“Today we have made history, because this is the first time we are passing a law that will make it compulsory for government, individuals and public organisations, to ensure that in all considerations, whether it is public buildings, or they are providing facilities, that they provide for the disabled in our midst."